Second report of Committee В

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(Draft) A50/31 9 May 1997

Second report of Committee В

(Draft)

Committee В held its third and fourth meetings on 8 May 1997 under the chairmanship of Dr S.R. Simkhada (Nepal).

It was decided to recommend to the Fiftieth World Health Assembly the adoption of the attached resolutions and decision relating to the following agenda items:

27. Collaboration within the United Nations system and with other intergovernmental organizations 27.2 Environmental matters

Two resolutions entitled:

-Promotion of chemical safety, with special attention to persistent organic pollutants -Protection of the marine environment

29. Personnel matters

29.1 Recruitment of international staff in WHO Two resolutions entitled:

-Recruitment of international staff in WHO: geographical representation 一 Employment and participation of women in the work of WHO

29.2 Confirmation of amendments to the Staff Rules: salaries for ungraded posts and the Director-General

One resolution

31. Method of work of the Health Assembly One resolution

30. United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund: appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

One decision

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Agenda item 27.2

Promotion of chemical safety, with special attention to persistent organic pollutants

The Fiftieth World Health Assembly,

Having considered the report of the Director-General on persistent organic pollutants;

Recalling resolutions WHA30.47, WHA31.28 and EB63.R19 on the evaluation of the effects of chemicals on health, and resolutions EB73.R10 and WHA45.32 on the International Programme on Chemical Safety;

Noting that the Director-General established in May 1996 a steering committee on sound management of chemicals to coordinate activities related to chemical safety;

Noting that the Memorandum of Understanding between UNEP, ILO and WHO concerning collaboration in the International Programme on Chemical Safety was renewed in 1996;

Noting that, in response to the call of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) for improved international cooperation on sound management of chemicals, an Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals was established in 1995 with six participating organizations (UNEP, ILO, FAO, WHO, UNIDO and OECD), and that WHO is the administering organization;

Noting that, in response to a recommendation made at UNCED and to resolution WHA46.20, an intergovernmental forum on chemical safety was established in 1994 with WHO as the host agency,

1. ENDORSES the recommendations of the Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety to the Health Assembly on persistent organic pollutants, as presented in the report of the Director-General;

2. CALLS UPON Member States:

(1) to involve appropriate health officials in national efforts to follow up and implement decisions of the UNEP and WHO governing bodies relating to the currently identified persistent organic pollutants;

(2) to ensure that scientific assessment of risks to health and the environment is the basis for the management of chemical risk;

(3) to continue efforts to establish or reinforce national coordinating mechanisms for chemical safety, involving all responsible authorities as well as the nongovernmental organizations concerned;

(4) to take steps to reduce reliance on insecticides for control of vector-borne diseases through promotion of integrated pest-management approaches in accordance with WHO guidelines, and through support for the development and adaptation of viable alternative methods of disease vector control;

(5) to establish or strengthen governmental mechanisms to provide information on the levels and sources of chemical contaminants in all media, and in particular in food, as well as on the levels of exposure of the population;

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approach and that strong steps are taken to ensure that there is no diversion of DDT to entities in the private sector;

(7) to revitalize measures for training and for increasing public awareness in collaboration with intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations, in order to prevent poisonings by chemicals and, in particular, pesticides;

3. REQUESTS the Director-General:

(1) to participate actively in the intergovernmental negotiating committees on the currently identified persistent organic pollutants, in the drafting of a legally binding instrument for the "prior informed consent" procedure, and in other intergovernmental meetings on issues requiring health expertise, in particular those relating to the use of pesticides for vector control, in order to ensure that international commitments on hazardous chemicals are realistic and effective and that they protect human health and the environment;

(2) to support research on integrated approaches to the control of vector-borne diseases, including environmental management, including engagement of appropriate WHO collaborating centres in this effort;

(3) to continue to support the acceleration and expansion of WHO's activities for the assessment of chemicals risk as a basis for national decision-making on its management, including the joint FAO/WHO programmes on food additives and contaminants and veterinary drug residues and on pesticide residues;

(4) to cooperate with Member States in facilitating the exchange of information on chemicals utilizing modern technology, especially in the collation and provision of reliable and comparable data, in particular from developing countries, on human exposure, incidents of poisonings and other adverse health effects;

(5) to take the necessary steps to reinforce WHO's leadership in undertaking risk assessment as a basis for tackling high-priority problems as they emerge, and in promoting and coordinating related research, for example, on potential endocrine-related health effects of exposure to chemicals and on the possible causal links with cancer and reproductive, neurological and immunological disorders;

(6) to continue efforts to enhance technical cooperation with Member States for the determination of their capacity-building needs, and for the implementation of programmes for the management of chemicals risk, in collaboration with participants in the Inter-Organization Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals and with other organizations;

(7) to report on the outcome of the deliberations at the Health Assembly to the UNEP Governing Council;

(8) to report to a future Health Assembly on progress in implementing this resolution.

(4)

Protection of the marine environment

Noting the successful conclusion of the Intergovernmental Conference to Adopt a Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities, which was held in Washington, D.C., from 23 October to 3 November 1995;

Having considered United Nations General Assembly resolution 51/189 on institutional arrangements for the implementation of the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities;

Stressing the need for Member States to take the necessary measures for the implementation of the Global Programme of Action at national and, as appropriate, regional and international levels;

Concerned about risks to human health from the degradation of the marine environment caused by land- based sources of pollution,

1. ENDORSES the Washington Declaration on Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities and the Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities as they relate to the protection of human health;

2. URGES Member States:

(1) to support the implementation of the Global Programme of Action in general and with regard to public health aspects;

(2) to participate in the development of a clearing-house for the implementation of the Global Programme of Action and in particular to support WHO's efforts to lead the development of the clearing- house mechanism for information on sewage;

(3) to explore ways and means of making additional financial resources available for setting up and maintaining the clearing-house mechanism;

3. REQUESTS the Director-General :

(1) to seek extrabudgetary financial resources in order to enable the Organization to discharge its assigned responsibilities in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action;

(2) to the extent that resources permit, to take the lead in the development of a clearing-house mechanism for information on sewage as one of the major land-based sources of pollution of the marine environment;

(3) to support the implementation of the Global Programme of Action concerning matters related to environmental health;

(4) to collaborate with UNEP and other international organizations concerned in the implementation of the Global Programme of Action.

(5)

Recruitment of international staff in WHO:

geographical representation

Noting the report and proposals of the Director-General and the views of the Executive Board with regard to the recruitment of international staff in WHO;

Recalling earlier resolutions of the Health Assembly and the Executive Board on the same subject, the last of which was resolution WHA48.28;

Noting that recruitment of nationals from unrepresented and under-represented countries and countries below the mid-point of the range has not yet reached the target of 60%;

Reaffirming that the principles embodied in Staff Regulations 4.2, 4.3 and 4.4 remain the paramount consideration in staff recruitment,

1. DECIDES to maintain the target of 60% of all vacancies arising in professional and higher-graded posts subject to geographical distribution during the period ending September 1999 for the appointment of nationals of unrepresented and under-represented countries and those below the mid-point of the range;

2. CALLS UPON the Director-General and the Regional Directors to pursue energetically their efforts to continue to improve geographical representation;

3. REQUESTS the Director-General to modify the method of calculating desirable ranges by revising the number of posts used in the calculation to 1450;

4. FURTHER REQUESTS the Director-General to report on the recruitment of international staff in WHO to the Executive Board in 2000.

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Employment and participation of women in the work of WHO

Noting resolutions WHA48.28 and WHA49.9;

Noting the situation at September 1996 regarding the proportion of women on the staff in established WHO offices and their distribution by grade;

Noting that the Strategic plan of action (1995-2000),1 which was endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution 49/167 of 23 December 1994, established the overall goal of parity for women by the year 2000, with a target of 25% in policy-level positions (D1 and above) by 1997;

Recognizing that women can also participate in WHO as temporary advisers, consultants and on scientific and technical advisory groups;

Recognizing the additional value that a balance of male and female staff can bring to the work of the Organization,

1. CALLS FOR the target for representation of women in the professional categories to be increased to 50%

in WHO;

2. CALLS FOR targets to be set at 50% by 2002 for new appointments of women to professional categories, representation of women as temporary advisers, consultants and on scientific and technical advisory groups;

3. STRONGLY URGES Member States to support the strategies and efforts of the WHO Secretariat to increase the percentage of women in professional posts, by identifying more women candidates and regularly submitting their candidatures, and by encouraging women to apply for posts;

4. REQUESTS the Director-General and Regional Directors:

(1) to ensure full and urgent implementation of the action outlined in the Director-General's report;

(2) to raise the minimum thresholds for the recruitment of women;

(3) to set minimum thresholds for participation of women as temporary advisers, consultants and on scientific and technical advisory groups;

(4) to report annually to the Executive Board on progress in increasing the representation of women in the professional categories, and as temporary advisers, consultants and on scientific and technical advisory groups.

1 See United Nations General Assembly document A/49/587, part IV: "Strategic plan of action for the improvement of the status of women in the Secretariat (1995-2000)”.

(7)

Salaries for ungraded posts and the Director-General

Noting the recommendations of the Executive Board with regard to remuneration of staff in the ungraded posts and of the Director-General,

1. ESTABLISHES the salary for the posts of Assistant Directors-General and Regional Directors at US$ 129 524 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 90 855 (dependency rate) or US$ 82 245 (single rate);

2. ESTABLISHES the salary for the post of Deputy Director-General at US$ 142 546 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 99 059 (dependency rate) or US$ 89 069 (single rate);

3. ESTABLISHES the salary for the Director-General at US$ 175 344 per annum before staff assessment, resulting in a modified net salary of US$ 119 722 (dependency rate) or US$ 106 255 (single rate);

4. DECIDES that these adjustments in remuneration shall come into effect on 1 January 1997.

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Agenda item 31

Method of work of the Health Assembly and proposed amendments to its Rules of Procedure

Having considered the report of the Director-General on the method of work of the Health Assembly;

Recalling resolution WHA20.2 concerning arrangements for the conduct of the general discussion in plenary meetings on the reports of the Executive Board and the Director-General, resolution EB71.R3 concerning, inter alia, the focus of such discussion, resolution WHA32.36 concerning, inter alia, preparation of the provisional agenda of regular sessions of the Health Assembly by the Executive Board and resolution WHA36.16 concerning, inter alia, the opening meeting of the Health Assembly;

Recalling also the decision of the Forty-eighth World Health Assembly to transfer resources from governing bodies to priority programmes, and the consequent need to shorten the duration of the Health Assembly;

Noting the proposed programme budget for the financial period 1998-1999 and the provision for sessions of the Health Assembly contained therein,

1. APPROVES the following arrangements for the conduct of the discussion in plenary meetings on the report of the Executive Board and The world health report (incorporating the annual report of the Director- General):

(1) delegates are requested to limit to five minutes their statements in such discussions;

(2) delegates wishing to do so may submit prepared statements of not more than 600 words for inclusion in the verbatim records of the plenary meetings;

(3) the statements should focus on the theme of The world health report;

2. DECIDES:

(1) that the Executive Board, when preparing the provisional agenda of each Health Assembly, shall normally include individual technical programme items in the agenda of the Health Assembly as separate items only in the years when the Health Assembly does not undertake a full review of the proposed biennial programme budget, thus allowing more time for such technical items;

(2) that reports on technical programme items which the Director-General has been requested to submit in budget years by previous resolutions of the Health Assembly shall henceforth be submitted in non- budget years;

3. DECIDES also that the opening meeting of the Health Assembly shall be held at 10:00 on the opening day, followed by the meeting of the Committee on Nominations, the second plenary meeting, and the meeting of the General Committee, so as to permit the third plenary meeting to take place as early on the opening day as possible;

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Rule 24

The Committee on Nominations of the Health Assembly shall consist of twenty-five delegates of as many Members.

At the beginning of each regular session the President shall submit to the Health Assembly a list consisting of twenty-four Members, to comprise with the President, ex officio, the Committee on Nominations. Any Member may propose additions to such list. On the basis of such list, as amended by any additions proposed, a vote shall be taken in accordance with the provisions of those Rules dealing with elections.

The President of the Health Assembly shall preside over meetings of the Committee on Nominations. The President may designate a member of his delegation as his substitute in his capacity as member during a meeting or any part thereof.

Meetings of the Committee on Nominations shall be held in private.

Rule 25

The Committee on Nominations, having regard to an equitable geographical distribution and to experience and personal competence, shall propose (a) to the Health Assembly from among the delegates nominations for the offices of the President and five vice-presidents of the Health Assembly, for the offices of chairman of each of the main committees, and for the members of the General Committee to be elected under Rule 31，and (b) to each of the main committees set up under Rule 34，nominations from among the delegates for the offices of the two vice-chairmen and rapporteur. The President shall submit an initial list of proposals as set forth above for consideration by the Committee on Nominations. Any member of the Committee may propose additions to such list. On the basis of such list, as amended by anv additions proposed, the Committee shall, in accordance with the provisions of Rule 80. determine its list of nominations which shall be forthwith communicated to the Health Assembly or to the main committees respectively.

Rule 101

At the commencement of each regular session of the Health Assembly the President shall request Members desirous of putting forward suggestions regarding the annual election of those Members to be entitled to designate a person to serve on the Board to place their suggestions before the General Committee. Such suggestions shall reach the Chairman of the General Committee not later than twenty- four hours after the President has made the announcement in accordance with this Rule.

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Agenda item 30

United Nations Joint Staff Pension Fund: appointment of representatives to the WHO Staff Pension Committee

The Fiftieth World Health Assembly appointed Professor Béat Andreas Roos, delegate of Switzerland, as a member of the WHO Staff Pension Committee, and Dr A. J.M. Suleiman, delegate of Oman, as alternate member of the Committee, the appointments being for a period of three years. Dr L. Malolo, delegate of Tonga, was appointed to replace Dr S. Тара, the appointment being for a period of two years.

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